OPT Technical Director Jobs
Technical Director jobs on OPT are available across film, gaming, software, and engineering industries. Most roles require STEM OPT eligibility, giving you a 24-month extension beyond your initial 12 months. Employers in this space regularly sponsor H-1B visas, making this a strong long-term career path in the U.S.
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Get Access To All JobsPosition Summary: The Associate Director of Financial Aid for Technical Operations provides strategic and operational leadership for the technical infrastructure that supports the awarding, packaging, disbursement, and reporting of federal, state, and institutional financial aid. The incumbent serves as the office’s primary technical authority, partnering closely with the Director of Financial Aid, Information Technology, the Registrar, Student Accounts, and Institutional Research to ensure that aid systems operate accurately, efficiently, and in full compliance with federal and state regulations. This position combines deep functional knowledge of financial aid administration with hands-on technical expertise in the Ellucian Banner Student Information System and structured query language (SQL).
Duties & Responsibilities:
- Lead the technical configuration, maintenance, and continuous improvement of the Ellucian Banner Financial Aid module, including rules tables, packaging algorithms, need analysis parameters, fund management, and award letter automation.
- Manage the financial aid components of Course Program of Study (CPOS) compliance, including Banner CPOS module configuration, recalculation of federal aid eligibility based on CPOS-eligible enrollment, and related reporting and aid adjustments; partner with the Registrar’s Office and Information Technology on degree audit integration and data exchange.
- Design, write, test, and maintain SQL queries, scripts, and stored procedures to support data extraction, reconciliation, federal and state reporting, audit response, and ad hoc analysis.
- Under the direction of the Director of Financial Aid, manage the full lifecycle of electronic data exchange with the U.S. Department of Education, including ISIR loads, COD reporting for Pell and Direct Loans, NSLDS submissions, and resolution of file rejects and reconciliation discrepancies.
- Assist the HEI Program Coordinator, as needed, with the administration of state grants and scholarships, ensuring accurate enrollment certification, eligibility determination, and timely transmission of state-mandated reports.
- Coordinate annual Banner roll-over activities, year-end processes, regulatory updates, and the implementation of new federal and state aid programs and rule changes.
- Serve as the office's technical liaison to Information Technology, vendors, and software partners on system upgrades, patches, integrations, and the evaluation of new technologies.
- Develop and maintain documentation, standard operating procedures, and internal controls for all technical processes, ensuring continuity of operations and audit readiness.
- Support the Director of Financial Aid in strategic planning, policy development, and the preparation of materials for federal program reviews, state audits, and institutional compliance.
Knowledge/Skills/Abilities:
- Demonstrated experience writing and maintaining SQL queries against a Banner or comparable Oracle-based environment.
- Working knowledge of federal Title IV regulations and applicable state aid program rules.
General Days/Hours: Monday - Friday 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Additional hours as requested and/or needed. Regular and reliable attendance.
Other:
Preferred Qualifications
- Higher Education & Financial Aid – Comprehensive understanding of higher education administration and student services, with specialized expertise in federal Title IV regulations (Pell Grant, Direct Loans, FSEOG, Federal Work-Study) and applicable state grant, scholarship, and tuition assistance programs.
- Ellucian Banner - Demonstrated proficiency administering the Ellucian Banner Financial Aid module, including rules-based packaging, fund and budget setup, requirements tracking, regulatory user-defined fields, and integration with Banner Student, Accounts Receivable, and General modules.
- SQL & Data Operations - Strong working knowledge of SQL (Oracle PL/SQL preferred) for querying, joining, and manipulating data across Banner tables; ability to build reproducible reports including Argos, troubleshoot data integrity issues, and translate functional requirements into accurate technical specifications.
- Compliance & Analysis - Skill in interpreting and applying complex federal and state regulations; sound analytical judgment; meticulous attention to detail; and the ability to maintain confidentiality of student records in accordance with FERPA and institutional policy.
- Communication & Leadership - Effective written and verbal communication with both technical and non-technical audiences; ability to lead cross-functional projects, mentor staff, and build collaborative relationships across the institution.
Minimum Qualifications: The formal education equivalent of an earned Bachelor's degree. Other job-related education and/or experience may be substituted for all or part of these basic requirements upon approval of the qualifications review committee.
Position Summary: The Associate Director of Financial Aid for Technical Operations provides strategic and operational leadership for the technical infrastructure that supports the awarding, packaging, disbursement, and reporting of federal, state, and institutional financial aid. The incumbent serves as the office’s primary technical authority, partnering closely with the Director of Financial Aid, Information Technology, the Registrar, Student Accounts, and Institutional Research to ensure that aid systems operate accurately, efficiently, and in full compliance with federal and state regulations. This position combines deep functional knowledge of financial aid administration with hands-on technical expertise in the Ellucian Banner Student Information System and structured query language (SQL).
Duties & Responsibilities:
- Lead the technical configuration, maintenance, and continuous improvement of the Ellucian Banner Financial Aid module, including rules tables, packaging algorithms, need analysis parameters, fund management, and award letter automation.
- Manage the financial aid components of Course Program of Study (CPOS) compliance, including Banner CPOS module configuration, recalculation of federal aid eligibility based on CPOS-eligible enrollment, and related reporting and aid adjustments; partner with the Registrar’s Office and Information Technology on degree audit integration and data exchange.
- Design, write, test, and maintain SQL queries, scripts, and stored procedures to support data extraction, reconciliation, federal and state reporting, audit response, and ad hoc analysis.
- Under the direction of the Director of Financial Aid, manage the full lifecycle of electronic data exchange with the U.S. Department of Education, including ISIR loads, COD reporting for Pell and Direct Loans, NSLDS submissions, and resolution of file rejects and reconciliation discrepancies.
- Assist the HEI Program Coordinator, as needed, with the administration of state grants and scholarships, ensuring accurate enrollment certification, eligibility determination, and timely transmission of state-mandated reports.
- Coordinate annual Banner roll-over activities, year-end processes, regulatory updates, and the implementation of new federal and state aid programs and rule changes.
- Serve as the office's technical liaison to Information Technology, vendors, and software partners on system upgrades, patches, integrations, and the evaluation of new technologies.
- Develop and maintain documentation, standard operating procedures, and internal controls for all technical processes, ensuring continuity of operations and audit readiness.
- Support the Director of Financial Aid in strategic planning, policy development, and the preparation of materials for federal program reviews, state audits, and institutional compliance.
Knowledge/Skills/Abilities:
- Demonstrated experience writing and maintaining SQL queries against a Banner or comparable Oracle-based environment.
- Working knowledge of federal Title IV regulations and applicable state aid program rules.
General Days/Hours: Monday - Friday 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Additional hours as requested and/or needed. Regular and reliable attendance.
Other:
Preferred Qualifications
- Higher Education & Financial Aid – Comprehensive understanding of higher education administration and student services, with specialized expertise in federal Title IV regulations (Pell Grant, Direct Loans, FSEOG, Federal Work-Study) and applicable state grant, scholarship, and tuition assistance programs.
- Ellucian Banner - Demonstrated proficiency administering the Ellucian Banner Financial Aid module, including rules-based packaging, fund and budget setup, requirements tracking, regulatory user-defined fields, and integration with Banner Student, Accounts Receivable, and General modules.
- SQL & Data Operations - Strong working knowledge of SQL (Oracle PL/SQL preferred) for querying, joining, and manipulating data across Banner tables; ability to build reproducible reports including Argos, troubleshoot data integrity issues, and translate functional requirements into accurate technical specifications.
- Compliance & Analysis - Skill in interpreting and applying complex federal and state regulations; sound analytical judgment; meticulous attention to detail; and the ability to maintain confidentiality of student records in accordance with FERPA and institutional policy.
- Communication & Leadership - Effective written and verbal communication with both technical and non-technical audiences; ability to lead cross-functional projects, mentor staff, and build collaborative relationships across the institution.
Minimum Qualifications: The formal education equivalent of an earned Bachelor's degree. Other job-related education and/or experience may be substituted for all or part of these basic requirements upon approval of the qualifications review committee.
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Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding OPT Sponsorship in Technical Director
Target STEM-designated programs
Technical Director roles typically fall under STEM OPT when your degree is in computer science, engineering, or a related field. Confirm your program's CIP code with your DSO before applying to maximize your authorized work period.
Prioritize employers with H-1B history
Look for companies that consistently file H-1B petitions for technical leadership roles. Studios, tech firms, and engineering consultancies with established immigration programs are far more likely to sponsor you after your OPT period ends.
Frame your portfolio around technical ownership
Hiring managers for Technical Director roles want to see systems you built and teams you led. Quantify your impact with specifics: pipeline tools created, performance improvements achieved, or cross-functional projects you drove from start to completion.
Address OPT timing early in conversations
Bring up your authorization timeline during the second or third interview round, not at offer stage. Employers need time to assess whether they can accommodate your OPT end date and plan any subsequent visa sponsorship accordingly.
Distinguish yourself from senior engineers
Technical Director is a leadership title. Emphasize your ability to set technical direction, mentor engineers, and align engineering decisions with business goals. This positioning also signals higher value to employers considering long-term sponsorship investment.
Use Migrate Mate to find sponsorship-ready employers
Migrate Mate surfaces Technical Director openings at employers who actively sponsor F-1 OPT candidates. Filtering by visa sponsorship availability upfront saves significant time and targets applications where you have the strongest chance of long-term authorization.
Technical Director OPT: Frequently Asked Questions
Can I work as a Technical Director on F-1 OPT?
Yes. If your degree is in a qualifying STEM field such as computer science, engineering, or information systems, you can work as a Technical Director on OPT for up to 36 months total: 12 months of standard OPT plus a 24-month STEM extension. Your job duties must be directly related to your degree field to remain compliant with OPT authorization requirements.
Does a Technical Director role qualify for STEM OPT extension?
It depends on your degree, not just the job title. If you hold a STEM-designated degree and the Technical Director role involves work directly related to that field, such as leading engineering systems, software architecture, or technical infrastructure, it qualifies. Your employer must also be enrolled in E-Verify and sign a formal training plan with your school before the extension is approved.
Do Technical Director employers typically sponsor H-1B visas?
Many do, particularly in gaming studios, visual effects companies, software firms, and engineering consultancies. Technical Director is a senior role that companies invest in retaining, which makes sponsorship more likely than for junior positions. Searching on Migrate Mate lets you filter for employers with active OPT sponsorship, helping you identify which companies are genuinely open to sponsoring technical leadership hires.
What happens to my OPT authorization if I change employers as a Technical Director?
You can change employers on OPT, but you must report the change to your DSO within 10 days and update your SEVIS record. Your new role still needs to be directly related to your degree. If you are on a STEM extension, your new employer must also be E-Verify enrolled and co-sign a revised training plan before you begin work at the new company.
What degree fields support OPT authorization for Technical Director roles?
Computer science, electrical engineering, software engineering, computer engineering, information technology, and digital media engineering are the most common qualifying fields. Degrees in production technology or interactive media may qualify depending on CIP code designation. Visual arts or film production degrees without a STEM designation typically support only 12 months of OPT, which is an important factor when evaluating long-term career planning in this role.